Non Artist Idea Peddler....

[sandmountainslim]

Not something which I myself can do (unless u like stickmen) but I wonder if anyone has every thought of the idea of doing a digital webcomic based on one of the old Public Domain characters in the Golden Age style? 

Wonderman for example has been PD for years and has very little history but TONS of great Captain Marvel or Superman type tales could be written/drawn using this character and his small supporting cast could be added to at will.   
It would be nice to see some classic type superhero stories available new rather than the multi-arc crap with bad artwork which big comic has been feeding us for so long.

[Yoc]

I've heard it suggested but that's all I recall.

[jfglade]

 I've seen it done, but not well. A decade ago there was a failed attempt with a web-comic called "The Mystics" which featured obscure Timely characters like Elecktro, the Ferret, Rockman, USA, etc. which the author assumed were in the Public Domain. Unfortunately his artistic and writing skills were not up to the level of his ambitions. He was also using an obscure domain provider who I believe is not defunct.

 The idea is sound. and there have been web-comics done in the golden age style, and even set in the thirties and forties but none that I know of that featured public domain characters in a serious attempt to recreate or reinvent golden age characters.

  Be interesting to see how long this thread lasts.

 Intrigued,
 Jon

[sandmountainslim]

I can't draw and no better than to try it but it would be interesting to see it done by someone who can. 
It seems all the people who CAN draw only want to drawn Spawn like creatures rather than classic comics.

[sandmountainslim]

Seems there is a TON of Fan Fiction stories online but most are just script. 
Would be nice if some of these writers hooked up with some artists.

[Yoc]

There was a series of books called BIG BANG that was very influenced by the GA.  And Moore did a mini-series called 1963 that was totally a riff on Marvel of the time.

[Roygbiv666]

ABC's Terra Obscura series used PD characters.
Dynamite Entertainment uses PD in their "Project Superpowers" series.

There was a series of books called BIG BANG that was very influenced by the GA.  And Moore did a mini-series called 1963 that was totally a riff on Marvel of the time.

[Yoc]

Thanks Roy, I knew I was forgetting some.

[Yoc]

Oh and one original series with a fun, wholesome feel was Tom Strong.

[jfglade]

I can't draw and no better than to try it but it would be interesting to see it done by someone who can. 
It seems all the people who CAN draw only want to drawn Spawn like creatures rather than classic comics.

 There is always artistic talent around, as well as artists who spend their time imitating whatever the newest "hot" style might be. During the hayday of independent comics following the success of the Teen Aged Mutant Ninja Turtles, there were scores of independent books that aped the TMNT. I'm sure there are still independent comics, and they were a good training ground for both writers and artists. There was an amazing proliferation of web-comics in the first decade of this century but it appears to have slowed down; still, someone is apt to try a webcomic featuring public domanin characters  if for no other reason than Dynamite and other publisher are doing that in print. How successful or long lasting that might be remains to be seen.

[bminor]

This sounds like a great idea, But, as an artist  (www.minorfineart.com) it would take a tremendous amount of time by an individual to do it up right.

Just look at the Rocketeer that Dave Stevens did. Exactly the kind of thing that could be done. Right time period, fantastic art

I shudder at the amount of time it would take.

B.

[jfglade]

This sounds like a great idea, But, as an artist  (www.minorfineart.com) it would take a tremendous amount of time by an individual to do it up right.

Just look at the Rocketeer that Dave Stevens did. Exactly the kind of thing that could be done. Right time period, fantastic art

I shudder at the amount of time it would take.

B.

 Good points. Writing and/or drawing a web comic would be like milking cows, quite a commitment and one that likely wouldn't be forgiving of real life distractions, family, work, and the other things that stand in the way of many good ideas.

[Kevin Yong]

ABC's Terra Obscura series used PD characters.
Dynamite Entertainment uses PD in their "Project Superpowers" series.

There was a series of books called BIG BANG that was very influenced by the GA.  And Moore did a mini-series called 1963 that was totally a riff on Marvel of the time.

There was also the "Next Issue Project" by Image Comics, which attempted to carry on old Golden Age titles as if they'd never ceased publication.

And I think that B&W indy publisher AC Comics (a.k.a Americomics? I forget their name evolution.) also featured a number of Golden Age characters transplanted into the modern era, but they renamed/redesigned many of them for trademark purposes.

More recently, some friends of mine who are small press comic creators have done some retro-style B&W comics featuring Golden Age characters, but I don't think they're available for online viewing as webcomics. Ordering info of their hardcopy books is online at their Five Star Comics blog.